• Water

“Glacier Blood” Threatens Mountain Ecosystems as High Altitude Temperatures Rise

• glaciers
• snow

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer “Glacier blood,” or “watermelon snow,” is sweeping across the Alps, and researchers are eager to survey the snow to figure out what’s responsible for the mysterious phenomenon—the culprit: algal blooms. A new study has found that the same algae that cause dreaded red tide are now blooming en masse on mountains worldwide. […]

• Water

Biden Administration Moves to Reverse Trump Rollbacks of Clean Water Act

• #30x30
• Clean Water Act
• rollback
• water pollution
• Waters of the U.S. Rule
• wetlands
• WOTUS

One more of the Trump administration’s rollbacks will meet its demise as EPA Administrator Michael Regan and the Biden administration are planning to reinstate protections for many marshes, streams, and wetlands — expanding again the coverage of the Clean Water Act under the “Waters of the U.S.” or “WOTUS” rule. 

Why This Matters: Since the late 1700s, 221 million acres of wetlands have been drained in the U.S. for agricultural use. This development has had severe consequences, including fertilizer and pollution runoff threatening drinking water for millions of people.

• Water

Study Finds Many Lakes are Losing Oxygen at an Alarming Rate

• #30x30
• climate change
• freshwater
• lakes
• methane
• oxygen
• warming

Oxygen levels in lakes are declining globally according to a new study, and experts say that it could have dangerous implications for the wildlife and humans that rely on freshwater ecosystems.

Why This Matters: Lakes only cover 3% of the earth’s surface, but are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, providing food and water for millions of people around the globe.

• Water

Drought Ignites Centuries-Old Water Dispute in Klamath Lake, Oregon

• climate change
• Drought
• Klamath
• water
• water dispute

This year’s historic drought has intensified a century-old dispute over water in the Klamath Lake region on the Oregon-California border. One hundred years ago, the federal government drained lakes and re-routed rivers to make farming easier, but this year’s drought has sent the region into crisis. 

Why this Matters: This drought may be the worst in a century — but the trend is likely to only get worse due to climat

• Water

Water Restrictions Force Tough Choices for CA Almond Farmers

• almonds
• California
• farmers
• water

by Natasha Lasky, ODP Staff Writer California’s ongoing drought has forced state authorities to drastically cut water allocations for farmers, even to zero, while water transfers have delayed. As a result, farmers have had to abandon crops that require too much water, like almonds. Despite the USDA making projections for a record almond season, growers […]

• Water

MA Towns Plagued with PFAS in Drinking Water

• drinking water
• Massachusetts
• PFAS

by Amy Lupica, ODP Staff Writer Several Massachusetts towns are looking for new water sources after discovering dangerously high levels of PFAS in their water. PFAS, chemicals primarily used to waterproof plastics, are known as “forever chemicals” and have been found to increase the risk of cancer and severe COVID-19. Now, advocates are urging federal and state governments to take […]